EV 867 The Three Rs, by Obtrox

[DocHH]

Hello EV N&C Wine Clubbers,
The grid was fairly quickly populated, although it took a bit longer to sort out the 2 extra letters in some of the across clues. It didn't help that I'd assumed some wrongly or in the wrong order! The superfluous letter in the clue for 37d was puzzilng for a while, then I ignored it, without detriment.

[dr b]

I'm glad I was not the only one noticing an extra letter in 37d. I found this one pretty easy going, having inadvertently followed exactly the strategy proposed in the upside-down words regarding a key word in the quote. With the full quote in hand early on, the rest was pretty basic. I actually finished last night - a record for me.

Off for morning exercise soon, then an afternoon spent getting my daughter ready for a week long camping/canoeing trip she's taking tomorrow. Enjoy the sunshine if you've got it, ignore the rain if you don't!

[dr b]

BTW, despite my quick finish, I marvel at the ability of the setter to write those across clues. How hard must that be?

[dr b]

BTW#2, today's Sunday Times is missing an "S" at 21a; perhaps it made its way into EV's 37d by mistake.

[DocHH]

Hello dr b,
Finished this EV in near record time, so reverted to the Sun Tel cryptic 2488, to occupy myself until lunch, or so I thought, but still time left to finish what Herself had left on the GK!
Have been enjoying the sunshine all weekend, yesterday morning sat on the seafront doing the Sat Tel crosswords while waiting for herself, who was having a pedicure, then the afternoon was spent gardening, mowing lawns actually, then enjoyed a couple of cold beers on the patio before dinner. After finishing EV et al this morning, 1ac, we tried to wear out a couple of garden chairs on the patio. It clouded over at 16.30 however.
Hope your daughter has a pleasant active week. I absolutely agree with you about the setter's ability, and not just this one all of them. No way I'd be capable of compiling an EV.

[novalis]

Hi!

I'm having a swift break from marking & administration. I allowed myself two hours this morning to look at the Cryptic, the G.K. and the E.V. O.K. so I went over budget by five minutes!!! All I shall say about the EV is that it "blared" out at us and is perfect for Physicsgirl and Ringer. Right ---- back to work. Hope to contribute again next weekend.
DocHH - Enjoy your holiday!!!

[DocHH]

Hello Novalis,
I wondered if you might just have a peek at EV 1ac), and wasn't really too surprised when you popped up on the Radar of this thread.

My time frame was not dis-similar to yours.
I will not be posting next sunday, but I'll be looking for an EV 869 thread on monday. Such are the trials and tribulations of being dragged off to a party of "Herself's" family!
Will need to mow and hedge on the following monday and tuesday afternoon, recording a Talking Newspaper on tuesday morning. Packing wednesday morning, from then on I'll be missing for sure for EVs 869 and 870!
Herself has trial packed at least 3 times so far, I keep telling her a list adhered to for each holiday would be far more efficient! Especially as we tend to always go to warm countries! The problem is she keeps buying new "holday clothes"!
I await approbations, or perhaps even contradictions from our other friends! I don't know Ringer's discipline, but Physicsgirl should have covered all three!

[Speravi]

EV - yes, Inquisitor - yes, Listener - yes, marking - I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Enjoyed EV867, without being too taxed.

The other problem with 37d is that it adds a superfluous letter to "the subject of the quotation" after the blacking out procedure, doesn't it? Whether it does or not, I think that it's warm enough to justify opening a Cremant de Loire.

[DocHH]

Hello all,
Took me a while to also twig the first 2 initials of our author were included. That completes a near symmetry of the grid.
Speravi, Have no knowledge of the sparkling Saumurs, but guess they are refreshing, appropriately chilled, especially in warm weather! My preference is for a heavier red, but do enjoy a Cava!

[ringer]

Evening all
Move over in CCC (clever clogs corner) as I too have finished EV. Haven't been able to crack open a bottle to celebrate as I have been out to see Britain's Got Talent Live. Much better show than last year. The dance acts were superb.
DocHH - I teach sums, more sums and hard sums so I should cover the third R. However, to quote my ex maths teacher "I am a Mathematician not an Arithmetician"!!

[Christiana]

Just add my voice to the smug chorus of 'finished'. I don't usually even start until Monday a.m but took a peek and then had to keep going - a conditioned response, I fear.
Agree about the superfluous letter Speravi, but still very clever for all that.

[DocHH]

Perhaps Speravi if the errant letter in the light of 37d had been an S, we could have been instructed to reveal the first 2 words of the quote, albeit ignoring an apostrophe!

Excuse me ringer, it's just the CC (completers corner), would those 3 lots of sums subjects "equate" to "Pure", "Applied" and "Further" along with my chosen subject that I did at A level all those years ago? Or, is it difficult to differentiate between them now that many subjects have been integrated?

No need to feel smug Christiana, just rest back in satisfaction with a glass or two after completing the challenge, there is more than a subtle difference.

Time for a pre-prandial in the sunshine on the patio.

[Physicsgirl]

Oh dear, not even looked at it yet. Feeling the pressure due to your comments though ...... after failing last week, don't know whether to try but maybe I will....

[DocHH]

Physicsgirl,go for it. You will kick yourself if you do not, especially when you see the solution in 3 weeks time! You owe it to minipg, talk her through it.

Anyone know where Devadolly is hiding?

[devadolly]

Snap Physicsgirl, haven't looked at it yet (this week is cancelled as far as I am concerned - bath taps that need a wrench to turn off and I don't want to completely re-vamp the bathroom, just has to follow that nothing I want to change will fit with the current system....am being politically manipulated by some eco-warriors on a certain matter...two articles are deadlined this week.....20 lambs are due to be cut by the butcher on Weds/Thurs and he needs a cutting list by tomorrow (does anyone know of an 8 legged breed of sheep by any chance?) ......have a talk to a local WI on (would anyone believe) baking for showing to prepare......and Himself wants his 6 day rule sorting out for buying calves and selling lambs and bullocks) Am feeling overawed by all the cleverclogsing and deeply stressed. Would somebody like to arrange some relaxing therapy please?
It is CCC Clever Clogs Corner by the way! Not that I have ahope of occupying it!
Branch out DocHH - the Samur's are lovely, we have friends who moved there and they always come with supplies which is very welcome - especially on a warm evening.............do we actually have them? That thin wind is still around, I suppose it is following the old country saying "If there is an East wind on 21st March, It'll be back three days out'a fower 'til 21st June"
Hope everyone is well.

[devadolly]

Crossed with you Doc.....not hiding, just going genty mad...........

[ringer]

Devadolly - you sound completely stressed out and deserve some quality time, though with your plumbing problem I daren't suggest a relaxing bath. I''m getting a thumping headache due to banging my head against a kitchen cupboard door so will probably have a colourful bruise tomorrow.
PG - do try this week's - some of the clues are very straightforward, even to my inexpert gaze.
DocHH - you certainly have a way with words though I do wish that more of my time was spent with the difficult sums!! My Year10 group I have nicknamed the tangoes due to the proliferation of false tan and face makeup that they feel is essential (and I'm not just talking about the girls lol)

[Christiana]

Have been happily resting all evening with said glass or two,as you suggested Doc H.H. But must now face up to reality - two college students I'm expected to collect from the airport at some ungodly hour and mentor for the next two weeks. Hope I don't lead 'em astray and that they don't turn out to be 'tangoes'.
Please don't feel weighed down by any weight of expectation pressing on you PG and Devadolly. No expectations here - only a hope you'll feel able to de-stress. May I suggest, Devadolly, if you can't have a hot bath you try a hot toddy instead.

[DocHH]

Devadolly, ringer and christiana could not hav expressed my sentiments any better! Such negativity from an M from the Establishment is disappointing!

[devadolly]

Oh stop nagging DocHH! As you should know, most literary geniuses are mental depressives!!!!!! (Well, that is my excuse - the MD bit, rather than the LG bit of course). Am going to go into the DC and raid the fridge, paddle my feet in mini's pool (I'm sure she won't mind) and raid the book shelves for a suitable bodice ripper to enjoy in the sun.
Ginger Mog and I managed to finish the grid with the exception of one in the SE area but for the life of me haven't got enough pairs of letters to make sense, and of course I haven't found anything in the grid.
Oh, and don't anybody say there are no goodies in the DC because there are, certain of us replenish regularly!!

[Christiana]

Solving strategies suggestion re. the quote is very useful this week, Devadolly. Concentrate on 29,33, 34, 36 (You only need one letter from 29) and this will give a word that will help you identify the whole quote. Think positive and you'll get there